Navigation has begun on the large Pinglu Canal, connecting China to the sea
On Monday, China announced the opening of the Pinglu Canal in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for navigation on 16 September, marking a landmark waterway project and a new strategic artery for regional development and cross‑border trade. At a press conference organised by the Information Office of the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it was announced that after four years of intensive work, the main construction of the canal had passed acceptance inspections, and the integrated intelligent dispatch platform for river‑sea transport in Guangxi had been fully commissioned. All emergency support, cargo source organisation and operational readiness work has been completed, and all necessary procedures have been finalised. The canal is ready for navigation. On Monday, the navigational chart for the canal estuary was also officially published, providing navigational support for vessels.
When a river connecting mountains to the sea becomes more than just a waterway — it becomes a strategic artery that changes the map not only of one province but of an entire region. The Pinglu Canal is not just an engineering achievement; it is a key to China's new economic geography. It shortens distances, reduces logistics costs and opens southwestern China to the maritime gateway of ASEAN. Four years of construction, billions in investment and thousands of worker‑hours have materialised in 134 kilometres of waterway that now links inland provinces with global markets. This is not just a canal — it is a bridge between the past and the future, between China and its neighbours.
The Pinglu Canal is the first national‑level canal planned and built to connect rivers and seas since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. It is also a key project of the New International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor and an important component of the Belt and Road Initiative. Construction began on 28 August 2022, with total investment of about 72.7 billion yuan (roughly $10.8 billion). The 134.2‑kilometre canal starts from the Pingtang River estuary at the Xijin Reservoir in Hengzhou City, Nanning Prefecture, in the north, passes through Luvu Town in Lingshan County, Qinzhou City, and reaches the Beibu Gulf along the Qinjiang River. It has been built to China's highest shipping standards, meeting Class I for inland waterways and capable of accommodating vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes.
Once operational, the canal will shorten the inland waterway for freight from southwestern China to the sea by more than 560 kilometres compared with traditional routes. Delivery distances to major ASEAN ports will be significantly reduced, and overall logistics costs will drop by 18–30 per cent. The project is expected to save more than 5 billion yuan in transport costs annually. It also holds great significance for the development of Guangxi's maritime infrastructure, promoting the large‑scale development of western China in the new era and contributing to the building of a closer China‑ASEAN community with a shared future.
The Pinglu Canal, conceived as early as the 1950s but postponed due to the project's complexity, has finally become a reality thanks to technological progress and China's economic growth. Its opening comes in a year when China and ASEAN countries are deepening trade ties, with bilateral trade exceeding $1.2 trillion. The new waterway will not only speed up the delivery of goods but also create new jobs, attract investment and strengthen the integration of southwestern provinces into global supply chains. This event marks a new phase in the development of China's infrastructure and its role in the regional economy.
As CCTV+ reports, the start of navigation on the Pinglu Canal marks an important milestone in the development of China's transport infrastructure. This project will not only strengthen the connection between inland regions and the coast but also open new opportunities for trade with ASEAN. In the coming years, the canal will become one of the main logistics arteries of southern China, fostering economic growth and regional integration.
